No fun for Marlborough

Marlborough 4 Fun is winding down after losing a key staff member and  difficulty running events during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Southern Jam Festival has been cancelled, but council bosses say the Christmas Parade and the New Year’s Eve festival, Ignite Marlborough, will go ahead.

The resignation of Marlborough 4 Fun's general manager led the trust to review it's operations, choosing to wind up a year before their contract with council expired.

Council economic, community and support services manager Dean Heiford says, "Marlborough 4 Fun has done some wonderful work in our community over the last two decades.

"However, over the past two years the pressures associated with Covid-19 have made gaining sponsorship and running events incredibly difficult."

Operating for 23 years, Marlborough 4 Fun has delivered a wide range of events. In better times, festivals, concerts and pavlova eating competitions. During pandemic restrictions, bringing Santa, via truck, to the region's children.

Dean says despite it being the end of an era for the organisation council will deliver key events like the Christmas Parade and the New Year’s Eve festival, Ignite Marlborough.

“These are much-loved community events and essential elements in Marlborough’s Christmas and New Year celebrations. It’s important that these events continue.

“Sadly, we will not be able to put on Southern Jam this year. That is very disappointing news for everyone involved but it was too late in the planning cycle to be able to make it happen this year."